To note
any declarations of interest made by Members, including those
restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in
Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992. See attached note from
the Monitoring Officer.

At the request of the Chair, Ms Lavine Miller-Johnson Licensing
Officer introduced the report which detailed the application for a
variation of the premises licence for Printers and Stationers, 21a
Ezra Street, London E2 7RH. The application was for the
removal of the condition to allow drinks to be taken
outside, by customers whilst seated at tables and chairs
immediately in front of the wine bar. It was noted that
objections had been received on behalf of residents.

At the request of the Chair, the applicant Mr
Augustine De La Brosse explained he was
the proprietor of the wine bar which he had acquired in 2003.
However, he had leased the premises to a tenant from 2013 to June
2018. Mr De La Brosse stated that owing
to complaints he had received about the previous tenant, he had now
taken control of his premises and wanted to expand his business so
he could respond to demand and compete with others in the area; by
providing patrons the facility to drink outside.

He said the area was a typical London
destination where customers can appreciate the charms of the
conservation area and congregate to enjoy a drink. Mr De La
Brosse acknowledged the area was a
mixture of commercial and residential premises and both needed to
co-exist. Mr De La Brosse said his
business was the smallest of its neighbours and therefore adding
tables and chairs outside the premises would not contribute to the
wider noise issues cited by the Objectors, and he intended to
comply with the conditions agreed with the responsible authorities,
such as the installation of CCTV cameras and planters to clearly
define the outside space. Mr De La Brosse said he would not be trading after 9:00
p.m.

Members heard from supporters of Mr De La
Brosse, who stated that Mr De La
Brosse was a respected and
conscientious businessman, whose presence in the community was
beneficial to locals and would help to galvanise the area.

The Sub-Committee took into account the
objectors’ concerns relating to public nuisance and public
safety, in particular the impact of noise nuisance on family life,
due to the close proximity of their homes to the street below. The
Sub-Committee heard from several objectors who stated the noise
nuisance they had experienced in recent years had become
intolerable. They feared the area would become a magnet for crowds
to come and drink in the street. The objectors provided
photographic evidence of what the street looked like on a typical
weekend, with crowds congregating in the street outside other
premises. They said that due to the design and layout of the
street, plus the back of the large Victorian primary school, the
noise did not disperse easily, as it acted like an echo chamber,
multiplying the noise from the street.

Concern was also raised with regard to Public
Safety, as the street is a narrow cobbled street, with passing
traffic. The objectors expressed concern about drinkers sitting on
the kerbside and the ...
view the full minutes text for item 4.1

At the request of the Chair, Ms Lavine
Miller-Johnson, Licensing Officer introduced the report which
detailed the application for a new premises licence for Angel and
Crown, 170 Roman Road, London E2 0RY, which is currently a disused
pub. The application was for the sale of alcohol (on
& offsales) and for the
provision of regulated entertainment(recorded music), seven days a week. It was
noted that objections had been received on behalf of residents.

At the request of the Chair, the Applicant, Ms
Melise Keogh stated she had applied for a new premises licence in
the hope of bringing the pub back into use and reinvigorating the
High Street. Ms Keogh said she had spoken to many residents and
community organisations which supported her venture. She said she
had conducted a survey with the help of the Roman Road Trust which
found there was overwhelming support and need for this type of
establishment in the community. Ms Keogh said the pub would be a
community pub, with a focus of allowing community groups and
individuals to meet, socialise and interact with each other. She
stated she had worked with the Responsible Authorities to ensure
the pub would meet the licensing conditions of any licence granted.
Ms Keogh said she had been in dialogue with objectors in an effort
to allay their fears and answer their concerns. She said she was
aware of the problems caused by the previous licensee. However, she
was experienced in pub management and took her responsibilities
seriously.

The Sub-Committee noted the concerns of the
objectors namely Ms Nia Wheeler and Ms VasilikiSpanos, who
are tenants of the flat directly above the pub. Ms Spanos confirmed the Applicant had been in contact
with them, but felt the issues of public nuisance and public safety
had not been fully addressed. Ms Spanos
stated the cellar hatch was directly at the entry point to the
flat, and as such she feared that if the cellar hatch was ever left
open, for any reason, this could result in a serious accident. Ms
Spanos stated that Ms Keogh had offered
entry and egress via the pub, but did not believe this was a good
solution, as staff and/or any other person could have access to the
private hallway and flats upstairs via the inner door connecting to
the pub. Ms Keogh offered the tenants the option of having a
key-card entry point and stated she would be happy to discuss this
further with the objectors.

The Sub-Committee also noted Ms Spanos’ concern about the later opening times
of the pub and the public nuisance this would cause. She said her
flatmate and herself feared for their safety especially with regard
to drunk patrons of the pub loitering near their doorstep, causing
a public nuisance.